By RAI MAROH – Beginning in early March, salt prices have increased over 300 kyat per viss (Burmese measurement) due to increased demand in Mon State and a shortage of salt resulting from unusually heavy rain fall.
The price for refined salt is 1,000 kyat for three viss, and the raw salt price per viss is between 170 kyat and 200 kyat. At the beginning of March, the price for raw salt was 40 baht per viss.
“After the price increased in March, it has not gone down. It keeps going up” said Nai Tin Aung, a salt field owner of 30 acres of salt in Panga village, Thanphyuzayat Township.
There are many demands for salt from the Mon people. It is an important ingredient in every day Mon food, like fish paste and mayan [a small fruit that is preserved throughout the year and used in cooking to make soups and curries sour]. During this season, every year, most Mon people buy salt to save in their homes for the whole year. mayan as well as the Mon people buy salt.
The large number of buyers has caused many salt traders to run out. Some salt traders in Mudon Township have no salt to sell. “I have been waiting for two days to buy salt, but they [salt sellers] did not come to my house,” said Mi Lon, who needs salt to store mayan.
After unusual rainfall throughout the country, most of the salt fields in Mon State were destroyed.
Heavy rainfall hit Mon state on December 3, 2010, January 11, 2011, and March 14, 2011. The rain destroyed many salt fields and salt owners throughout Mon State have lost money on their investments for the year.
Nai Thin Aung explained that he was able to collect 0.5 million viss of salt last year, on which he profitted. But, this year, he was only able to collect 200,000 viss and will therefore lose money.
Thanphyuzayat Township produces the most salt in Mon State, while Ye Township, Poung Township and Tadon Township also produce salt. Mon State produces 10 percent of the salt in Burma.
